Milone pitches A's to 6-3 victory over Royals

KANSAS CITY, MO - Tommy Milone carried a shutout into the ninth inning and Grant Balfour held on for the save, securing the Oakland Athletics' 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.

Milone (8-7) was in complete control before Alcides Escobar and Eric Hosmer drove in runs with one out in the ninth. Balfour came on and gave up a run-scoring single to Billy Butler, but he managed to retire Lorenzo Cain and Mike Moustakas to end the game.
It was the 22nd save of the season and the 40th straight for Balfour, which matched the Oakland record for consecutive saves set by Dennis Eckersley from Sept. 15, 1991-Aug. 7, 1992.
Milone, who had been battered in his last three starts, outpitched Wade Davis (4-7), who gave up three runs in seven innings in a respectable outing of his own.